publisher: Multnomah
rating: ***
Sir Dalton has an exciting life as a knight-in-training. As well as fostering the admiration of his fellow knights and the beautiful Lady Brynn, he has numerous adventures at the training camp.
But, something is amiss. The new camp trainer does not pledge his true service to the King and the Prince. When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission and captured by an evil lord, he starts to recognize valour in true knights comes from allegiance to a higher power---shirking the evil of the Shadow Warrior and finding light.
Sort of a Pilgrim's Progress meet Narnia, Chuck Black has created a welcome allegory that will thrill children. A map of the Kingdom of Arrethtrae; an introduction to past installments in the series; discussion questions ( and answers); and a song written for Shadow Heart can be found at the back of the text so children can engage with the story long after the last page is turned.
It won't be hard to decipher the allegorical tenets of the book from the King and the Prince to the Dark Knight Lucius and how they figure into the Gospel, but young readers and their parents can discuss the virtues and characteristics of a true knight and the wiles of the evil doers.
A black and white story, Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart can act as a parable on morality.
I think what makes this a perfect fit for Father's Day is its function as a read-aloud book. A chapter a night as a family will keep the kids pining for more and the parents involved in a wonderful fantasy to shape young minds.
Check out Sir Dalton for your library as well as these other Father's Day offerings from WaterBrook/Multnomah:
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